John Robins: Nomadic Revery

He may be performing to small crowds in a pub basement and doing his own tech this year, but in the best traditions of the Fringe, John Robins could well be next year's big draw.

An hour with Robins is a thrilling experience. His excitement is infectious, and he has a superb talent for building momentum throughout each routine. This, combined with a rapid delivery, means that the audience are often still recoiling from the last gag when the next volley comes in. Robins manipulates words brilliantly to illustrate each unlikely image with flair.

The theme of the show is the loss of innocence, which allows Robins to bring in material about school experiences, first love, and losing his virginity. While this is hardly unexplored territory, his ability for spotting the absurd hiding in the mundane ensures that each sequence feels fresh.

Particular highlights among some strong material are sequences on the unfortunate consequences of experimenting with sex toys and the dangers of typos in internet chat room sex. The second of these gives rise some cheerful pedantry and wordplay that veers into the surreal with excellent comic effect. Sharp asides and some ironic sleaze complete a well-rounded act.

Robins doesn't seem likely to reinvent standup this Fringe, but he is a skilled and multitalented comic and it could well be that his time has come. His performances at this year's Fringe could prove to be a route into bigger things, where he'll surely find even more innocence to lose.